Peace talks begin

Dasmunsi said that since 8216;8216;an impression was gaining ground that the stability of the government was under question8217;8217; and the Left and the BJP had both urged that the matter be tackled within Parliament, the 8216;8216;Prime Minister directed me to talk to all political parties and submit a report to him by tomorrow.8217;8217;

Outlining the broad view on the issue after his meeting with leaders of Opposition L K Advani and Jaswant Singh, Dasmunsi said that all political parties 8216;8216;want a comprehensive bill to define the terms of office of profit and its scope in a manner that subsequent and repeated amendments would not be required.8217;8217;

Dasmunsi met CPIM8217;s Sitaram Yechury who is said to have favoured an all-party meeting while CPI8217;s D Raja advocated an early Parliament session. The BJP, which had yesterday demanded an 8216;8216;immediate8217;8217; session of Parliament to resolve the matter, today hardened its stand and said it would favour the original schedule8212;the post-recess sitting from May 10.

This was apparently intended to bait the Left which wants a speedy resolution given Mamata Banerjee8217;s election campaign and her complaints against several CPM MPs, including Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

The Government had kept its options open8212;ordinance and a Bill8212;but Advani, like the Left, refused to go along the ordinance-route. The Government, sources said, had even prepared to prorogue Parliament in case all parties agreed on an ordinance.

Jaswant Singh told reporters after the meeting that the BJP would not support any ordinance. 8216;8216;Whatever decision we take, we should take it in Parliament,8217;8217; he said. The BJP, he maintained, was agreeable to a Parliament session, but it was for the Government to decide on the date.

Since the session had only adjourned sine die, it required a 10-day notice to do so. He said the party would not spell out its stand unless the Government came out with a draft bill. 8216;8216;We can8217;t give our opinion on a blank paper,8217;8217; he said. He sounded non-committal when asked if he favoured legislation with retrospective effect. 8216;8216;It is a matter of detail,8217;8217; he contended.

BJP8217;s waning interest in an early session was clear from his insistence that 8216;8216;election process in the states has begun.8217;8217; His words laced with sarcasm, Singh said, 8216;8216;If they feel that a grave crisis has hit the country, well, let them tell us what crisis is this.8217;8217; As if to downplay the urgency, he said, 8216;8216;It is already curtains on the drama, which the entire country had to witness.8217;8217;

With both the Left and the BJP leaving it to the government to decide the next course of action, including the drafting of a Bill, Dasmunsi said: 8216;8216;No draft is ready before the government, even though we have informally spoken to political leaders during the Budget session on this8230;the Law Ministry will prepare the Bill with clear-cut legal provisions and no adhocism.8217;8217;

He said that although Advani has clearly indicated to him that 8216;8216;there was no need for an all-party meeting as political parties can give their inputs when the Bill is debated in Parliament,8217;8217; the final decision on the issue would be taken by the Prime Minister.

As for when Parliament session would be called, Dasmunsi indicated that the prior schedule of May 10-23 is likely to remain 8216;8216;as it was prepared after taking into account the heavy election obligations of all members8217;8217;. Asked on an early session, Dasmunsi said that 8220;the leaders of the Opposition have left it to the government8217;8217;.

While Dasmunsi met leaders of CPI, CPM, RSP, LJP, BSP and the BJP and spoke to allies like Sharad Pawar and Shibu Soren and Dayanidhi Maran, he will also talk to Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, BJD, JD-U and JD-S, Trinamool Congress, PMK and MDMK tomorrow.

What happens next

8226; A Bill will be drafted bringing clearing the air on definition of 8220;office of profit,8221; who8217;s in, who8217;s out and who should play arbiter

8226; Political parties to give inputs during debate on the Bill in a brief session of Parliament to be called.

8226; Bill likely to enacted with retrospective effect as all parties are affected

8226; Decision on all-party meeting to be taken by PM after Parliamentary Affairs Minister submits report tomorrow

with Pradeep Kaushal